Yuichi: Support System For Veterans

who drive past his home answer him with anger even though it isn’t all his fault. Yuichi is left to be alone and isolated in his shed, making carvings of people and hallucinating about the war. However, it is only Yasuko and her family who accept Yuichi because they are connected through war. Otherwise, Yuichi would, most likely, have been left alone to hallucinate for the rest of his life. Only somebody who has experienced war or is willing to listen can truly accept and communicate properly with another veteran. The VA is meant to serve as a support system for veterans because they need help to integrate back into society. However, according to Ronald D. Hester’s article, Lack of access to mental health services contributing to the high suicide …show more content…
Yuichi is a war veteran who needs help from others who understand war and can help him through the process of rehabilitation. He needs somebody like Yasuko because she has gone through war and the atomic bomb and understands what he needs and how she can help. Veterans today, however, are not receiving that same support, therefore leaving them isolated and without help. Another instance of specialized support in Black Rain is when Yasuko decides to stay with her aunt and uncle rather than move back in with her father. Even though she is blood related to her father, she is connected to her aunt and uncle by something greater: the flash, or the bomb. Their shared experiences and illnesses bring them together, albeit in a melancholic tone. They rely on each other because they understand what they went …show more content…
Near the end of the film, Yasuko finds herself in a weak state and Yuichi takes charge and carries her to the emergency vehicle. Yuichi is able to remain calm without having a panic attack even in the direct presence of a an engine running. Why is that? He is only able to do so, because he has his attention focused on helping Yasuko. While we may not be sure he is cured for good, Yuichi has clearly progressed since the beginning of the film because of Yasuko’s existence. By deciding to help another victim of war, Yuichi was able to help himself get better at the same time. Veterans need the same kind of support that Yuichi experienced with Yasuko. Mental illnesses are difficult to treat because the problem can remain hidden in a person’s mind. Genuine communication and understanding is needed to significantly alleviate someone of their worries or issues. Only then, can a person attain peace with the war they fought. Without a trained professional to turn to, many veterans commit suicide, explaining the high suicide rate in